The availability of accessories for wheelchair users has expanded tremendously over the past few years. You could never need or use all the accessories available on the market- if you did, your chair would be bristling with enough gadgets and gizmos to rival a one-man novelty band. The accessories you choose will reflect your personal abilities, activities, skill level, and plain old personal preference. An accessory you use all the time might be merely a hindrance to another person. You will grow out of some accessories you found indispensable when you first started using a wheelchair. You may grow into other accessories as you gain experience with your chair. Below is a list of accessories, including a description, other common terms for the accessory, and the positives and negatives of using it.

airplane wheels – When quick release rear tires are removed, the wheelchair can roll on these wheels down an airplane aisle (these are slightly larger wheels than the little rollers on the anti-tippers).

allows you to pull yourself through a narrow door or down an airplane aisle

arm support panels – These plastic or metal guards attach to the arm supports, between the wheel and the rider.

keeps tire dirt on the outside of arm supports and away from your clothes

may reduce the effective width of your wheelchair seat; be sure to check the pressure on both sides of your hip bones

backpack – Bag designed to be worn on the back, it can also be attached to the back of a wheelchair by hooking the straps over the push handles or frame. Backpacks specifically designed for wheelchairs are also available.

can carry an assortment of supplies

additional weight on the back of the chair can increase likelihood of tipping over backward (if you plan to use a backpack often, practice skills with it on your chair)

bicycle lights – Lights designed to clip onto bicycles can increase your visibility to motorists. A white halogen lamp can act as a headlight. Blinking red lights can be clipped to the rear of your wheelchair to improve your visibility.

helps you view upcoming terrain; increases your visibility to motorists when traveling in the street; removable

require batteries; may not be as easy to mount on a wheelchair as to a bike

bike trailer – A wheeled cart that can be attached to the back of the wheelchair for added storage.

stabilizes wheelchair when doing transfers; helpful when in rehab or to those new to using a wheelchair

usually unnecessary for more experienced wheelchair users

cellular phone

can be used to contact help in an emergency

must keep batteries charged; adds weight; additional expense to maintain; could create a distraction while maneuvering

chair guards (frame guards) – Chair guards are plastic or leather covers that fit over your wheelchair when you are not using it.

protects paint from damage caused by impact

You may need help to put it in place Unless you travel with it, it may not be where you need it

chest strap – A strap attached to the back of the wheelchair that crosses under your arms and over your chest. It can help prevent you from falling forward. Always use a lap belt if you are using a chest belt.

can prevent injury that might occur when falling forward out of wheelchair during sudden stops; provides additional trunk stability

locks you into your wheelchair, which may cause an injury if wheelchair falls over; can restrict mobility of trunk and/or buttocks

clothing guards (mud guards) – Plastic or nylon guards that stay between your wheels and clothes to keep you clean.

keeps clothing from getting soiled by dirt kicked up from tires

some people find clothing guards unsightly; may narrow the width of the seat

very strong and sticky; can be used for temporary repairs while on the road

should not be used in place of proper wheelchair parts (e.g., not equivalent to a bolt); may leave a sticky residue after removal

running brakes – Used to slow a moving wheelchair. Rare, but available on some European-made wheelchairs, also as an aftermarket product, you can add to your wheels if needed.

may be helpful when moving on downward slopes

adds weight to the wheelchair; may interfere with usual propulsion and rear wheel removal

electrical tape – Thin, stretchy plastic tape that is used to bind electrical wires. Comes in many colors.

can be used for on the road repairs until you can get home and fix the problem properly

not as sticky or strong as duct tape

flags – A tall, flexible rod with a triangular flag (usually vinyl or plastic); usually comes in a fluorescent color. Mounts to the back of your wheelchair to improve your visibility.

helps prevent accidents by making you more visible to motorists

many dislike the way the flag looks, can get caught on low-hanging obstacles

flashlight - Useful when traveling along dark streets and to improve your visibility to others. For easy access, use a Velcro™ strap to attach it to the frame of your wheelchair.

can be used to look for lost objects and to help perform emergency repairs

people with limited hand function may have difficulty operating

fold-down briefcase rest (luggage carrier) – Small lever that attaches to each foot support side rails. When raised, can hold a briefcase or travel bag at your feet, where you can access it easily. Folds down and out of the way when not in use.

keeps items conveniently located within easy reach; folds up when not in use

heavy bag may tip wheelchair in the forward direction

foot straps – Straps that attach to the foot supports and loop over the top of each foot to keep them from sliding forward off the foot supports.

prevent feet from falling forward off foot supports; limit the chance of injury or accident caused by feet hitting the ground in front of the foot supports; will prevent legs from falling onto face in a backward fall

need to be released for transfers; if you fall from your wheelchair, your feet will stay attached to the foot supports and this can be dangerous

gloves – Gloves with grips such as plastic strips or dots on the palms.

reflectors – Plastic disks or rectangles that reflect light aimed at them; can be attached to the spokes, frame, or back of a wheelchair to improve your visibility to motorists. Recommended if wheeling in the roadway where vehicular traffic is anticipated.

seat pouch – Cloth pouches specifically designed to be attached under wheelchair seats. A fanny pack (nylon or cloth pouches worn around the waist) can be modified to serve as a seat pouch.

people with little or no upper-body strength may have difficulty reaching under-seat pouches

shoulder harness – Strap that fits over your shoulders and hooks around the back of a wheelchair to help keep you upright and bolster your forward stability.

can prevent injury that might occur when falling forward out of wheelchair due to sudden stops

locks you into your wheelchair which may cause an injury if it tips completely forward; may limit reach even more than a chest strap

spoke guards – Plastic disks that fit over your outer spokes; function as a hubcap for the rear wheels.

protects spokes from being damaged, protects fingers from getting caught in spokes, useful in sporting events where wheelchairs tend to collide

add weight; can degrade quickly

supports (postural support devices, trunk supports) – Padding that can be added to a wheelchair seat and/or back to improve the seating position of the rider. May include chest straps, lap belts, side-to-side supports, and hip guides.

provides stability to allow independent function

may restrict mobility of trunk and/or buttocks; may interfere with transfers

Swiss Army Knife (multi-purpose tool) – Can function as an all-in-one tool kit; depending on the model, it can include screwdrivers, scissors, knife blades, files, pliers, and tweezers.

handy while out and about, saves time spent looking for tools

requires good hand function to operate

tray (lap tray) – A flat removable surface (usually plastic) that mounts to the frame and extends over your lap. It can be used as a surface for eating, playing games, reading, writing, etc.

can provide a good substitute for tables when available tables and counters are too low to wheel under

adds weight; may feel and look awkward; limits ability to access other surfaces

web cradle – A square piece of mesh that attaches below the seat and is used for storage.